"Peck's Bad Boy" was made twice--one in 1921 with Jackie Coogan in the lead and another in 1934 with Jackie Cooper. Here in 1938 in "Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus", it stars a virtual unknown--Tommy Kelly. However, the different leading man isn't the only difference. In fact, the story and characters are mostly different. Peck now has a mother (his mother died when he was a baby), there is no bratty cousin or aunt and you really won't recognize the sequel as a sequel at all. That's okay--just assume it's NOT a sequel and you'll be fine.
In addition to Kelly, the film has an interesting cast that includes: Spanky McFarland, Billy Gilbert, Edgar Kennedy, William Demarest and Grant Mitchell as Dad. So, even if this is a low-budget film, the cast is made up of some excellent supporting actors.
The story is crazy but works if you suspend disbelief...and I mean TOTALLY suspend disbelief. It begins with Peck about to go to camp while his parents are on a vacation. His parents leave the day before Peck is to go on the train to camp. During this day, he goes to the circus with his friends. But, when they are forced to sneak in (after being cheated out of their tickets), they are caught and Peck feels obliged to pay for every one of his friends. BUT, then he's left with no money for the train and decides to hitch a ride with the circus to the next town--which is near the camp. It is AMAZING how easy this is and how the circus folk have no problem with him hanging out with them!
There is a subplot involving an evil lady who is intent on becoming THE star at the circus--and Billy Peck is able to help foil her plans. It's all pretty weird--and difficult to believe at times (such as when she locks Edgar Kennedy in the cage with the nasty lion, Demon). But, it's all in good fun.
The bottom line is that in spite of a plot that occasionally made no sense, I still enjoyed the movie. It's the sort of fun old fashioned film I like, even if it isn't exactly Shakespeare--it's just entertaining. Worth seeing if you are an old movie buff--those who aren't probably won't understand or care for it. But even if you don't like it, you can at least say you saw a film where Spanky got loopy while taking drugs (you have to see it to understand).
